Computer Animation Festival

Speaker(s):
Jesús Martínez, Pixar Animation Studios, United States of America
Edwin Chang, Pixar Animation Studios, United States of America
Beth Albright, Pixar Animation Studios, United States of America
Dan Sarto, Animation World Network, United States of America
Jesús Martinez, United States of America
Edwin Chang, Pixar Animation Studios, United States of America

Speaker:
Jesús Martínez, Pixar Animation Studios, United States of America
Edwin Chang, Pixar Animation Studios, United States of America
Beth Albright, Pixar Animation Studios, United States of America

Abstract: Join writer and director Edwin Chang, producer Jesús Martínez and supervising technical director Beth Albright as they explore the making of their heartfelt CG animated short film, Wind. Made as part of Pixar’s SparkShorts program, Wind is set in a world of magical realism where a grandmother and her grandson are trapped deep down an endless chasm, scavenging debris that surrounds them to realize their dream of escaping to a better life. A screening of the film will be followed by a “Making Of” presentation and a Q&A.

Speaker(s) Bio:
Jesús Martínez joined Pixar Animation Studios in January 2009. He has since worked on the feature films Monsters University and The Good Dinosaur, and Academy Award-winning Toy Story 3, Inside Out, and Coco. Most recently, he was the Effects Manager on Onward. Martínez also produced the Pixar SparkShorts Wind, available on Disney+. As a department manager, Martínez partners with the producers and creative leads of departments to help guide and lead the teams producing specific work in the pipeline for the film. The focus is to keep creative engagement and productivity up, while staying on schedule and resolving any issues with shifting priorities or complexities that arise. Prior to Pixar, Martínez held internship positions at Zucker Production (Jerry and Janet Zucker, Asymmetrical Productions (David Lynch), and Practical Pictures (Sheila Hanahan Taylor and Craig Perry). He was also a script reader for the Sundance Scriptwriting Lab. Raised in Pilsen, Chicago, Martínez attended DePaul University and University of California, Los Angeles for their Film and Television Producers Program. He currently resides in Oakland, CA.

Edwin Chang joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2005 as a global technology intern and has since worked in simulation and crowds on several Academy Award-winning films such as Up, Inside Out, and Coco. He also worked on theme park attractions including Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and Toy Story Midway Mania! Chang was the Simulation Supervisor on Inside Out and the Crowds and Simulation Supervisor on Cars 3. Chang wrote and directed Wind, which is part of Pixar’s SparkShorts program and is currently streaming on Disney+. Most recently, he worked in simulation on Soul which will debut on Disney+ on December 25, 2020. Chang is currently the Shot Supervisor on an unannounced Pixar project. Raised in Hancock Park and Koreatown in Los Angeles, Chang first explored animation and computer graphics in high school. He went on to participate in a summer program in animation at the California Institute for the Arts (CSSSA), and studied computer science and art semiotics at Brown University, leading to his internship with Pixar. After graduating, he returned to Pixar and has been there ever since. Chang currently resides in Emeryville, CA.

Beth Albright has been with Pixar Animation Studios since 2009, working as a character shading and groom artist on feature and short films including Toy Story 3, Day & Night, Brave, La Luna, and Monsters University. Prior to joining Pixar, Beth worked in the 2D animation industry for ten years as a color stylist and assistant art director, contributing to a variety of feature films, short films and commercials. Her credits there include Space Jam, 101 Dalmatians II, The Fox and the Hound II, and award-winning short film The Indescribable Nth. Beth received a BFA in graphic design from the University of Notre Dame and an MFA in digital animation from The Ohio State University (ACCAD).

Speaker:
Jesús Martínez joined Pixar Animation Studios in January 2009. He has since worked on the feature films Monsters University and The Good Dinosaur, and Academy Award-winning Toy Story 3, Inside Out, and Coco. Most recently, he was the Effects Manager on Onward. Martínez also produced the Pixar SparkShorts Wind, available on Disney+. As a department manager, Martínez partners with the producers and creative leads of departments to help guide and lead the teams producing specific work in the pipeline for the film. The focus is to keep creative engagement and productivity up, while staying on schedule and resolving any issues with shifting priorities or complexities that arise. Prior to Pixar, Martínez held internship positions at Zucker Production (Jerry and Janet Zucker, Asymmetrical Productions (David Lynch), and Practical Pictures (Sheila Hanahan Taylor and Craig Perry). He was also a script reader for the Sundance Scriptwriting Lab. Raised in Pilsen, Chicago, Martínez attended DePaul University and University of California, Los Angeles for their Film and Television Producers Program. He currently resides in Oakland, CA.

Edwin Chang joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2005 as a global technology intern and has since worked in simulation and crowds on several Academy Award-winning films such as Up, Inside Out, and Coco. He also worked on theme park attractions including Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and Toy Story Midway Mania! Chang was the Simulation Supervisor on Inside Out and the Crowds and Simulation Supervisor on Cars 3. Chang wrote and directed Wind, which is part of Pixar’s SparkShorts program and is currently streaming on Disney+. Most recently, he worked in simulation on Soul which will debut on Disney+ on December 25, 2020. Chang is currently the Shot Supervisor on an unannounced Pixar project. Raised in Hancock Park and Koreatown in Los Angeles, Chang first explored animation and computer graphics in high school. He went on to participate in a summer program in animation at the California Institute for the Arts (CSSSA), and studied computer science and art semiotics at Brown University, leading to his internship with Pixar. After graduating, he returned to Pixar and has been there ever since. Chang currently resides in Emeryville, CA.

Beth Albright has been with Pixar Animation Studios since 2009, working as a character shading and groom artist on feature and short films including Toy Story 3, Day & Night, Brave, La Luna, and Monsters University. Prior to joining Pixar, Beth worked in the 2D animation industry for ten years as a color stylist and assistant art director, contributing to a variety of feature films, short films and commercials. Her credits there include Space Jam, 101 Dalmatians II, The Fox and the Hound II, and award-winning short film The Indescribable Nth. Beth received a BFA in graphic design from the University of Notre Dame and an MFA in digital animation from The Ohio State University (ACCAD).